StartupNation is one of the leading online communities for entrepreneurs and I’ve followed their work since they were an early startup created by two entrepreneurial brothers with an eye for business and a budding radio following. So I was jazzed when the site approached me to shed some light on trends related to older social entrepreneurs.

Below is our conversation.

StartupNation: What is encore entrepreneurship? 

Marci Alboher: We’re looking at people who are choosing to start their own ventures in mid or later life, that are not just business, but are also social-mission focused.

What would be an example?

Alboher: There’s a huge wave of businesses that are in the longevity economy that fit this bill, where people are designing businesses around helping people address issues related to aging, such as caregiving-related services or remodeling homes for aging in place. 

For my book, I interviewed a couple who started a business called Care to Go. They provided travel companions for older people who were unable to fly on their own or people who are uncomfortable with solo air travel. It was a business started by a retired pilot and his wife, who had quite a lot of experience with caregivers in her life. Together, they came up with this idea that really matched both of their skills and prior experiences. It was informed by a social need that they saw right under their nose.

Read more at StartupNation

Published: October 23, 2017